Every year 11.11 comes, bringing us a portal of New Beginnings.
This portal magnifies our choices.
Today, this year, let us use this opportunity wisely.
I was shocked, saddened and dismayed by the election results. I have been further saddened and worried by the violence that has already broken out against people of color and immigrants, and displays by the KKK.
I voted for Clinton. She won all four states I’ve ever lived in.
And she won the popular vote.
I am not generally a political person, having turned away from that realm when I realized, with the election of Arnold Schwarzenegger as Governor of California, that this really is all theatre.
Still, this election felt different to me and I paid more attention, desiring the selection of our first woman president (however imperfect she might be).
Now, how to respond?
Today on 11.11 consciously choose what attitude, energy and activities you will seed going forward.
These are my recommendations:
Feel Your Emotions, But Don’t Act Out
You might be feeling anger, fear, sorrow, shock, dismay. Whatever you’re feeling needs space inside you and in your life for expression. Create safe containers in which you can let your emotions flow.
Channel the potent energy of your feelings. Write, dance, make art, meet with others to create something constructive.
Know the difference between feeling your feelings and acting out. Acting out typically leads to regret. You say or do things in anger or sorrow that upon reflection you wish you had done differently. If you choose to protest, do so with the type of energy you want to see more of in the world, not less.
Build and Act from Your Spiritual Strength
When everything is going “your way” it’s easy to be optimistic and to experience “Love and Light.” This requires very little spiritual strength. It’s when a relationship sours, you feel rejected or over burdened, a job or business ends or an election goes differently than you wanted that your practice is needed.
I practice optimism. That’s my choice. I’ve cultivated optimism for 30+ years now, and I’ve done my best to return it as quickly as I can in the times when it’s been hardest to feel. Optimism opens possibilities even in the darkest times.
I am excruciatingly aware that I and we need guidance in order to make our way through the healing crisis our country is now in. The shadow that was hidden has now arisen to the surface. The good news is that now we can address it. The challenging news is that now we must address it. Let us do so with the qualities of being that we value: love, compassion, and appreciation.
Speak Up and Act When You Witness Injustice
Many of us living in progressive states understand that racism lives in “other places.” I was disheartened to read on Facebook about a first year student at UC Santa Cruz who apologized when she brushed against a white upper classman that “it doesn’t matter anyway as all you niggers will be dead soon.”
Yes, in Santa Cruz. At a university no less.
Speak up when you hear racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic remarks. Particularly if you are white, challenge racism. Particularly if you are a man, challenge sexism. Particularly if you are straight challenge homophobia. Particularly if you were born in the United States challenge xenophobia.
Stand next to someone who is being threatened. Help protect them with your presence. Call for assistance as needed. Listen to them afterward so they can off load their anger and fear. Be present to what is happening, and bring in your spiritual strength to support you – and her, him, them.
Challenge Your Complacency ~ Become Sovereign
Now more than ever, we need to become sovereign – even more. Here’s a taste of what that means:
- Work with your own shadow, including embracing the parts of yourself that remind you of what you dislike in others.
- Cultivate multiple perspectives that move you out of simplistic judgments.
- Stand in and act from your values.
- Tap into the wisdom of your body to guide you.
- Create and focus on your vision of the world as you would like it to be.
- Take inspired actions to create that world, even if it’s just in your own home to begin with.
- Connect with other sovereign beings and inspire one another into greater possibilities.
- Build what you desire from your inner directives in concert with others similarly guided.